Everglades City, Chokoloskee and Everglades National Park

Capt. Charles Wright
December 4, 2003
Everglades City - Saltwater Fishing Report

Strong Snook Bite In Early December

The snook bite here in Everglades National Park this last week has been strong ... exceptionally strong.  It should remain so as long as the weather cooperates.  Cobia, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, speckled trout and redfish are also plentiful.  The snook fishing has been so good, this last week, I could not get away from it!!

Steve and Cindy Bryant, from Missouri, had a great day snook fishing boating over (what seemed like) 30 fish.  Of course, the camera, at least my camera, was at home. 

My wife, Vickie and I slipped away for a few hours to her favorite snook hole. She boated 18 snook and one small Goliath grouper in two hours.  Man that baked parmesan cheese snook dish is wonderful!

Stuart Rosenfeldt's partner, Mike Pancier, has asked Stuart to come fishing with him in the past.  Stuart finally did make it, but without Mike.  However, he did have his brother-in-law, Al Glaeser and his son Steve in tow from Atlanta.  Together, they boated 21 snook including one for dinner.  Mike has taken a few trips with me and done very well.  But, I took Stuart and crew into the deep backcountry this day ... something Mike has yet to experience.  One of the great things about Fishing Everglades National Park is the variety of fishing that it offers.  Inshore, offshore, backcountry, rivers, beaches, islands, wrecks.  Weather it is live bait, artificial or Everglades fly fishing, this is one of the best all-around fisheries that you can find.  Like many have told me ... "Why have I been going to Naples fly fishing when Everglades National Park is just 30 minutes away?"

In the midst of this snook run, we had our first real cold front of the season.  It WAS cold and blowing 25 knots.  Joe Blancato and crew, of Columbus, Ohio,  had the tough luck of fishing that day.  We struggled and managed a few fish, but most importantly, we all had a great time.

Three colleagues of Chicago's Arlington Computer Products (www.Arlingtoncp.com) , Darren Wesley, Arly Gunther and Sam Price fished with me the day after the big front.  We had a tough go of things early on.  Once the tide turned in the afternoon, however, things really picked up.  All three caught some nice snook at the end of the day.  However, I know Sam would like a another chance at that big sow that ran him to the mangroves like a freight train.  I guess good friends, good cigars and good fishing do make for a great trip.  You guys were a blast to fish with!! Come back soon!!

I should have the Kayak fishing trip schedule posted within the week.  There has been a lot of interest in these trips.  They should be fun and productive.  Basically, we are going to load up the yaks on a mother ship to transport them to the remote areas of the Park.  Instead of paddling for two days to get to the hot spots, you will be transported, fish for about three hours, cook up your catch on the boat, fish some more and then ride home.  It should be a blast!!  It looks like the space on these limited trips will book up quickly, so send me an email if you are interested so I can be sure that get you a seat!!

If you would like to book a charter with Chokoloskee

Charters, contact Capt. Charles Wright @www.ChokoloskeeCharters.com; ([email protected]) or call him @ 239-695-9107.  Tight Lines!

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